Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-24
CounserieisIns.

correspondent OF the New 1oth UVftd
1t is not generally known thas th'
nickIes aud the pennies are very success
fully counterfeited and that there IS M
possible means Of detecting the sparion
from the genuine. The nickel afford
very handsome profit. All the counter
feiters have TO do is TO go to the Reyises
Statutes and there they find the mate
rials to be used ia their makiugs Ali Of
the metal employed is base. A nickl'
costs the Government about one cen
aud quarter IL the Government haC
the exclusive manufacture ofthese coins
there would be great profit In them
Blu. the coin can be so easily reproduced
that there Is nc. means Of estimating how
many OF them are put out of the conn
terfelt class. Ii the Government should
decide TO call in this class of coin they
would have TO redeem the counterfeit'
AS well, becs use they arc all made OF ex'
actly the same material as the Govern
ments issue. The bronze pennies are
also counterfeited. There is profit n
this. The bronze Of which the pennies
are made costs "A cents a pound. A
pound will make l60 pennies. The only
way this part of The currency can be de-
tected would be for Congress TO change
the law 90 that bullion 10 the value OF
the lin can be put in it. The nickels
to-day represent sort of fiat currency.
They are stamped by the Government
as five cents and they really represent
only Il cent and quarter.
One of the latest kinds Of counterfeit-
ing is the imitation of old coins for sale
to the numismatists. One of the most
ingenious modes of deception In this
class of work is the changing Of the
date OF some common issue Of a certain
coin to the date of year whose issue Is
scarce and consequently high. The old
liberty dollar Of 1904 Is very scarce. IL
is said there are only seven genuine
coins of this issue in this country. The
coin is rated Ia numismatic catalogue
at value of 81 200 and upwards. The
counterfeiters have been quite success
ful in changing 1901 issues to that OF
1901. This is not counterfeiting in the
strict legal sense of the word, and the
treasury officials would not be able TO
punish any one for this class of offense.
But they have exercised their power 10
put stop to such work wherever they
have found it going on.
Another form of trouble met with by
the treasury people in protecting the
currency is in the various devices EN-
ployed by enterprising advertisers. A
number of advertisers will print fac
similies of coins or Of the currency In
their advertisements. Coin catalogues
very often contains embossed reproduc-
tions Of the coin advertised. When
these are silvered or gilded they become
dangerous. Their backs and fronts are
often pasted together and passed Ia the
evening upon ignorant people. Smaller
coins of The silver embossed character
are constantly being slipped into the
street car boxes where they cannot have
close inspection, particularly when they
are slipped I'm during the evening. The
Italians and the small fruit people are
used for the purpose Of working of all
the small counteffeits.
One of the most successful counter
feiters has balfled the treasury for over
live years. He has adopted such an
original role that thus far no trace Of
him has ever been reached. His name,
even, is not known. A fairly good de-
scription of him has been obtained, but
beyond that the Secret Service Bureau
has no positive information. This
counterfeiter works alone. lie has no
apparatus beyond a pen and bottle OF
ink, and having no accompliccs, Is not
In any danger OF being betrayed. His
method Of proceeding 10 very simple.
He will take ten, a twenty, or a fifty
of the greenback or national bank issue,
and In the shortest possible time can
make such a successful copy Of it la pen
and ink as to defy detection from any
body but an expert with glass. | saw
a fifty dollar note at the treasury made
By him OF the greenback issue. The
general appearance Of this bill Is per-
feet. The lines about all Of the portrait
work will bear the closest inspection
under glass. The letter work is abso-
lutely correct and the signatures mirac-
ulous reproductions. Even the treasury
seal is faultless. The artist that pro
duces this class Of work rarely II ever
counterfeIts the same issue twice during
the same period. IL is therefore not
possible 10 put bank people Oh their
guard against him. He skips about from
issue to Issue and, while ne rarely goes
below $40, yet has condescended TO
make ten dollar note. He is apparently
always on the wing. HIS drst note was
detected In New Orleans. Other issues
have been found IN Southern cites along
the Mississippi river, and again they
would be found in Chicago or the ex-
treme West. His counterfeiting can
never reach very large amount. lie
apparently travels about q great deal
and defrays the expenses Of this travel
ing with his knowledge Of the pen. lie
is man Of such talent that he could
certainly command handsome salary
/ in legitimate busisess. he has thu'
far been so successful in putting bis
wares on the market that BY the time BIZ
note Is detected the slightest trace Of IL
author is gone. TITS is one Of the 70
mances Of the Secret Service. There il
not an officer connected with the sefyie'